Chapter 56. The Perfect Tense

Chapter 56 The Perfect Tense 56.1 So far we have dealt with two Past Tenses of the verb - the Imperfect, implying continuous or repeated action in the past, built upon the Present Stem, e.g. οἱ Φαρισαιοι ἐλεγον ὁτι... The Pharisees were saying that.... and the Aorist, implying single or completed action in the past, built upon the Aorist Stem. e.g. οἱ Φαρισαιοι εἰπον ὁτι... The Pharisees said that... Now we come to the Perfect (I have done something) e.g. I have finished my homework, and here it is. In both English and Greek, the Perfect implies that something happened in the past, with consequences or some effect on present conditions. There is a sequence of events - I finished my homework (some time ago in the past), the finished homework is here as evidence (in the present, or at the time of speaking). Greek is a bit stronger than English in the implied effect that the Perfect has on the present state of affairs. One of the most common Greek Perfects in the New Testament is γεγραπται = "it has been written" (Aorist Passive of γραφω ) used in reference to the Scriptures - they have been written (in the past), and they are still valid today. NOTE : In many cases where the English translation uses a Perfect, the Greek original has an Aorist. 56.2 The Perfect Indicative Active is built upon the Perfect Active Stem of the verb (the Fourth Principal Part of the verb. For the majority of a verbs, the Perfect Active Stem is formed by a duplication of the first letter of the Present Stem, followed by an -ε-. This is referred to as "reduplication" - it repeats the sound of the first consonant of the stem. In the case of contract verbs, the vowel at the end of the stem is also lengthened. Present Perfect Active I loose λυω λελυκα I have loosed The basic pattern for the Perfect Indicative Active is I PSTEM-κα PSTEM-καµεν we you (singular) PSTEM-κας PSTEM-κατε y'all he/she/it PSTEM-κεν PSTEM-καν they For λυω, this becomes I have loosed λελυκα λελυκαµεν we have loosed you have loosed λελυκας λελυκατε y'all have loosed he/she/it has loosed λελυκεν λελυκαν they have loosed Possibilities for weirdness : Contract verbs (including καλεω and its compounds) broaden the contract vowel. For compound verbs, the prefix comes before the reduplication of the stem. Verbs beginning with an aspirate are reduplicated by the smooth consonant : φ by π-, θ by τ-, χ by κ- Verbs beginning with a vowel lengthen the vowel (as for the addition of the augment) Verbs beginning with σ-, ζ-, ξ- merely add an augment. Verbs beginning with γν-, many beginning with γλ-, and some beginning with βλ-, merely add an augment. Verbs beginning with a ῥ- double the ῥ and add an ἐ- as a prefix. Examples Present Perfect Active I honor τιµαω τετιµηκα I have honored I do, act, make ποιεω πεποιηκα I have done, acted, made I fulfil πληροω πεπληρωκα I have made fulfilled I love φιλεω πεφιληκα I have loved

Further examples are given in the table of Principal Parts of Verbs - see Appendix D 01 Some verbs which begin with a vowel (in κοινη Greek) originally began with a consonant which had dropped out of use before the time of the New Testament. However, the Perfect had already been formed, and may be encountered in the GNT. originally Present Future Aorist Perfect Active I have (I hold) σεχω ἐχω ἑξω ἐσχον ἐσχηκα I see ϝοραω ὁραω ὀψοµαι εἰδον ἑωρακα or ἑορακα ἱστηµι, (I stand, put) was originally σιστηµι It will be dealt with in more detail in chapter 69. Some verbs do not use the -κ- but have the endings -α -ας -εν -αµεν -ατε -εν directly on the stem. These are referred to as Second (or Strong) Perfects. The reduplication will indicate that they are Perfects. e.g. I become γινοµαι γεγονα I have become I write γραφω γεγραφα I have written I shout κραζω κεκραγα I have shouted NOTE : Common Perfects are listed in the table of Principal Parts of Verbs - see Appendix D 01. They should be learned as soon as possible. 1. τῃ τε γυναικι ἐλεγον ὁτι Oὐκετι δια Then they were saying to the woman that την σην λαλιαν πιστευοµεν, "(It's) no longer because of your saying (that) αὐτοι γαρ ἀκηκοαµεν και οἰδαµεν we believe, for we ourselves have heard and ὁτι οὑτος ἐστιν ἀληθως we know that this one is truly ὁ σωτηρ του κοσµου. the Savior of the world. (John 4:42) ( οἰδαµεν is perfect in form but is translated as a present = "we know", see Chapter 68) 2. τα ἐργα ἃ δεδωκεν µοι ὁ πατερ... The works which the Father has given to me. (John 5:36) 3. αὐτα τα ἐργα ἃ ποιω µαρτυρει περι ἐµου The very same works which I do testify about ὁτι ὁ πατηρ µε ἀπεσταλκεν. me, that the Father has sent me. (John 5:37) 4. και ὁ πεµψας µε πατηρ ἐκεινος And the Father who sent me (he) µεµαρτυρηκεν περι ἐµου. has born witness about me. (John 5:37) ( "The having-sent-me Father", that one has born witness... ) 5. οὐτε φωνην αὐτου πωποτε ἀκηκοατε You have neither hear his voice at any time οὐτε εἰδος αὐτου ἑωρακατε. nor have seen his appearance (form). (John 5:37) 6. ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐπαισχυνοµαι, οἰδα γαρ ᾧ But I do not feel shamed, for I know in whom πεπιστευκα και πεπεισµαι ὁτι δυνατος I have believed and I am convinced that ἐστιν την παραθηκην µου φυλαξαι he is able to guard what I have entrusted εἰς ἐκεινην την ἡµεραν. (to him) until that Day. (2 Tim. 1:12) ( ἡ παραθηκη - "something entrusted", trust deposit, from παρατιθηµι - I entrust ) 7. ἐγω φως εἰς τον κοσµον ἐληλυθα. I have come (as) a light into the world. (John 12:46) 8. ἀπεκριθη ὁ Πιλατος, Ὃ γεγρφα, Pilate answered, "What I have written, γεγρφα. I have written." (John 19:22) 9. εἰπεν δε ὁ Παυλος,... Eἱ µεν οὐν ἀδικω Paul said, "If I am guilty και ἀξιον θανατου πεπραχα τι, and have done anything worthy of death, οὐ παραιτουµαι το ἀποθανειν. I do not decline to die. (Acts 25:10-11) 10. και ἡµεις πεπιστευκαµεν And we have believed (and still believe) και ἐγνωκαµεν and have known (and still know) ὁτι συ εἶ ὁ ἁγιος του θεου. that you are the holy (one) of God. (John 6:69 )

56.3 The Perfect Indicative Middle and Passive are built upon the Perfect Passive Stem - which in most cases is the same, or very similar to, the Perfect Active Stem. The Perfect Middle and Perfect Passive personal endings are the same - one finds out from the rest of the sentence whether the verb is to be translated in a Middle or a Passive sense. There is one rather weird (though logical) construction - for both the Perfect and Pluperfect Middle and Passive, the Third Person Plural uses the Perfect Participle with εἰσι(ν) (Perfect) and ἠσαν (Pluperfect). The Participle must agree (in gender) with the gender of the subject. The basic pattern for the Perfect Indicative Active is I PSTEM-µαι PSTEM-µεθα we you (singular) PSTEM-σαι PSTEM-σθε y'all he/she/it PSTEM-ται P-Participle εἰσιν they For λυω, this becomes I have been loosed λελυµαι λελυµεθα we have been loosed you have been loosed λελυσαι λελυσθε y'all have been loosed he/she/it has been loosed λελυται λελυµενοι εἰσιν they have been loosed In the case of λυω, the personal endings go directly on the Perfect stem without any problems in pronunciation. However, if the verb stem ends in a consonant a short vowel sound is added to the stem for ease of pronunciation. In the Indicative, an -o- is added before µ or ν, and an -ε- before other consonants. The vowel is referred to as the thematic, variable, or euphonic vowel. We met it, without realizing it, in the endings of the Present Middle -οµαι, -ῃ (contracted from -εσαι ), -εται, -οµεθα, -εσθε, -ονται Possibilities for weirdness Some verbs which now end in a short vowel, e.g. τελεω (I complete, accomplish) originally ended with a sigma, e.g. τελεω was originally τελεσω. The sigma may re-appear in the Perfect, giving τετελεσµαι etc. Verbs ending in a sigma will drop one sigma in the Second Person Singular ( τετελεσαι, not τετελεσσαι ) The sigma of -σαι and -σθε combines with labials, dentals, mutes, gutturals in ways similar to the sigma of the Future and First Aorist tenses. 1. ὁ Ἰησους εἰπεν, Tετελεσται, και κλινας Jesus said, "It is finished", and have bowed την κεφαλην παρεδωκων το πνευµα. his head he gave up the spirit. (John 19:30) 2. Xριστος ἀπεθανεν... και... ἐταφη Christ died... and was buried και.. ἐγηγερται τῃ ἑµερᾳ τῃ τριτῃ and has been raised on the third day κατα τας γραφας. according to the scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:3-4) 3. ἀκουσαντες δε οἱ ἐν Ἱεροσολυµοις The apostles in Jerusalem, having heard that ἀποστολοι ὁτι δεδεκται ἡ Σαµαρεια Samaria had accepted τον λογον του θεου, ἀπεστειλαν προς the word of God, sent αὐτους Πετρον και Ἰωαννην. Peter and John to them. (Acts 8:14) 4. και ἐµαρτυρησεν Ἰωαννης λεγων ὁτι And John bore witness, saying Tεθεαµαι το πνευµα καταβαινον ὡς "I saw (have seen) the Spirit coming down περιστεραν ἐξ οὐρανου, like a dove out of heaven και ἐµεινεν ἐπ' αὐτου. and remaining on him. (John 1:32) 5. τον καλον ἀγωνα ἠγωνισµαι, τον δροµον I have fought the good fight, I have finished τετελεκα, την πιστιν τετηρηκα. the race, I have kept the faith. (1 Tim, 4:7) 6. ὁ δε ἀποκριθεις εἰπεν αὐτοις ὁτι, He (having answered) said to them, Ὑµεις δεδοται γνωναι τα µυστερια "To you it has been granted to know της βασιλειας των οὐρανων, the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, ἐκεινοις δε οὐ δεδοται. but to them (those) it has not been granted. (Matt. 13:11)

7. ἐφη αὐτῳ ὁ Ἰησους, Παλιν γεγραπται, Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, Oὐκ ἐκπειρασεις κυριον τον θεον σου. "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (Matt. 4:7) 8. και ἡµεις τεθεαµεθα και µαρτυρουµεν We have looked upon and we bear witness ὁτι ὁ πατηρ ἀπεσταλκεν τον υἱον that the Father has sent (his) Son σωτηρα του κοσµου. (as the) savior of the world. (1 John 4:14) 9. ἠλθεν ὁ Ἰησους... λεγων ὁτι Jesus came... saying, Πεπληρωται ὁ καιρος και ἠγγικεν The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom ἡ βασιλεια του θεου. of God has come near. (Mark 1:14-15) 10. οὑτως γαρ ἐντεταλται ἡµιν ὁ κυριος, For in this way the Lord has commanded us, Tεθεικα σε εἰς φως ἐθνων... "I have put you as a light to the Gentiles.. (Acts 13:47) 56.4 The Perfect Participles are built on the Perfect Stem. The Perfect Participle Active of λυω is λελυκως, λελυκυια, λελυκος The Perfect Participle Middle / Passive of λυω is λελυµενος λελυµενη λελυµενον The participles will be dealt with in Chapter 58 56.5 The Perfect Infinitives are built on the Perfect Stem. The basic forms are Perfect Infinitive Active PSTEM-κεναι e.g. λελυκεναι to have loosed Perfect Infinitive Middle / Passive PSTEM-σθαι e.g. λελυσθαι to have been loosed Verbs with a Second Perfect form the Perfect Infinitive Active as PSTEM-εναι Infinitives (particularly Perfect Infinitives) are often found in Indirect Statements (see Chapter 61), where they take the place of the verb in the statement. 1. Ἀγριππας δε τῳ Φηστῳ ἐφη, Agrippa said to Festus, Ἀπολελυσθαι ἐδυνατο ὁ ἀνθρωπος οὑτος "This man could have been released εἰ µη ἐπεκεκλητο Kαισαρα. if he had not appealed to Caesar." (Acts 26:32) 2. λεγω γαρ Xριστον διακονον γεγενησθαι For I say that Christ has become a servant περιτοµης ὑπερ ἀληθειας θεου, of the circumcision on behalf of God's truth εἰς το βεβαιωσαι τας ἐπαγγελιας in order to confirm the promises των πατερων. of (to) the fathers. (Romans 15:8) 3. εἰ τις δοκει ἐγνωκεναι τι, If someone supposes to know (that he knows) οὐπω ἐγνω καθως something, he has not yet (known) as he δει γνωναι. ought to know. (1 Cor. 8:2) 4. δια τουτο ὑπηντησεν αὐτῳ ὁ ὀχλος Because of this, the crowd went to meet him, ὁτι ἠκουσαν τουτο αὐτον πεποιηκεναι (because) they heard that he had done this το σηµειον. sign (miracle). (John 12:18) 5. ἐγω δε κατελαβοµην µηδεν I found out (that) he had done nothing ἀξιον αὐτον θανατου πεπραχεναι. worthy of death. (Acts 25:25) 6. λογιζοµαι γαρ µηδεν ὑστερηκεναι I reckon (that) in nothing have I fallen short των... ἀποστολων. of the... apostles. (2 Cor. 11:5) 7. ἐλπιζω δε και ἐν ταις συνειδησιν ὑµων I hope (that) it has been revealed πεφανερωσθαι. to your consciences also. (2 Cor. 5:11) 8. τουτο δηλουντος του πνευµατος του ἁγιου, The Holy Spirit makes (making) this clear µηπω πεφανερωσθαι (that) the way of (to) the sanctuary την των ἁγιων ὁδον. has not yet been revealed. (Heb. 9:8) ( το ἁγιον or τα ἁγια = "the holy thing(s)" = the sanctuary )

9. ἀδελφοι, ἐγω ἐµαυτον Brethren, I do not reckon myself οὐ λογιζοµαι κατειληφεναι. to have obtained (it). (Philip. 3:13) 10. τίς τουτων των τριων Which of these three does it seem to you πλησιον δοκει σοι γεγονεναι became (to have become) a neighbor του ἐµπεσοντος εἰς τους λῃστας ; of the one who fell to the robbers? (Luke 10:36) 56.6 The Perfect Imperatives The Perfect Imperative Active uses a Perfect Participle with Imperatives from εἰµι. The Perfect Imperative Middle/Passive uses the Perfect stem with endings similar to those of the Present Imperative Middle/Passive. So for λυω we have λελυκως ἰσθι = Be "having loosed" (singular) λελυκως ἐστω = let him be having loosed λελυκοτες ἐστε = Be "having loosed" (plural) λελυκοτες ὀντων = let them be having loosed λελυσο = Be in a state of having been loosed (singular) λελυσθω = let him be "having been loosed" λελυσθε = Be in as state of having been loosed (plural) λελυσθων = let them be having been loosed Note : ἐρρωσο (singular) or ἐρωσθε (plural), the Perfect Imperatives of ῥωννυµαι (I am healthy), were often used at the conclusion of a letter, with the meaning "farewell", "good-bye" 1. και διεγερθεις ἐπετιµησεν τῳ ἀνεµῳ και And having awakened, he rebuked the wind εἰπεν τῃ θαλασσῃ, Σιωπα, πεφιµωσο. and said to the sea, "Be calm, be silent. (Mark 4:39) 2. ἀπεχεσθαι εἰδωλοθυτων και αἱµατος και Abstain from meat offered to idols, and blood, πνικτων και πορνειας, and (things that have been) strangled, and ἐξ ὧν διατηρουντες ἑαυτους εὖ πραξετε. unchastity, from which, keeping yourselves ἔρρωσθε. you will do well. Farewell. (Acts 15:29) ( το εἰδωλοθυτoν = meat offered to idols ) 56.7 Sentences for reading and translation 1. ὁ οὐν ὀχλος ὁ ἐστως και ἀκουσας ἐλεγεν βροντην γεγονεναι, ἀλλοι δε ἐλεγον, Ἀγγελος αὐτῳ λελαληκεν. (John 12:29) ( ἐστως = "standing", Perfect Participle Active of ἱστηµι - see Chapter 69 ) 2. ἀπο τοτε ἠρξατο ὁ Ἰησους κηρυσσειν και λεγειν, Mετανοιειτε, ἠγγικεν γαρ ἡ βασιλεια των οὐρανων. (Matt. 4:17) 3. και εἰπεν ὁ δουλος, Kυριε, γεγονεν ὃ ἐπεταξας. (Luke 14:22) 4. εἰ δε τις λελυπηκεν, οὐκ ἐµε λελυπηκεν, ἀλλα... παντας ὑµας. (2 Cor. 2:5) 5. ἀπεκριθη αὐτῳ Ἰησους, Ἐγω παρρησιᾳ λελαληκα τῳ κοσµῳ. (John 18:20) 6. Περιτοµη µεν γαρ ὠφελει ἐαν νοµον πρασσῃς, ἐαν δε παραβατης νοµου ᾖς, ἡ περιτοµη σου ἀκροβυστια γεγονεν. (Rom. 2:25) ( ὁ παραβατης = transgressor, one who disobeys a law, from παραβαινω = I break, disobey) 7. οἰδα και πεπεισµαι ἐν κυριῳ Ἰησου ὁτι ουδεν κοινον δι' ἑαυτου. (Rom. 14:14) ( οἰδα is Perfect in form, but is translated as a Present = "I know" - "I have learned") 8. οἰδαµεν δε ὁτι ὁ υἱος του θεου ἡκει και δεδωκεν ἡµιν διανοιαν ἱνα γινωσκωµεν τον ἀληθινον. ( 1 John 5:20) ( οἱδαµεν = "we know" - see Chapter 68 ἡκει = "he has come, he is present" τον ἀληθινον = "him who is true" - note that the τον shows that it refers to a masculine object) 9. ὁ γαρ εἰπων, Mη µοιχευσῃς, εἰπεν και, Mη φονευσῃς, εἰ δε οὐ µοιχευσεις, φονευεις δε, γεγονας παραβατης νοµου. (James 2:11) ( ὁ παραβατης = transgressor, one who breaks the law) 10. ὁ δε Ἰησους στραφεις και ἰδων αὐτην εἰπεν, Θαρσει, θυγατερ, ἡ πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε. (Matt. 9:22)

56.8 Writing Practice : Write the Greek text several times, while saying aloud : Rev. 15:4 τίς σε oὐ µη φοβηθῃ, κυριε, Who shall not fear thee, Lord, και δοξασει το ὀνοµα σου ; and glorify thy name? ὁτι µονος ὁσιος, Because (thou) alone (art) holy, ὁτι παντα τα ἐθνη ἡξουσιν because all the nations shall have come και προσκυνησουσιν ἐνωπιον σου, and (shall) worship before thee, 56.9 New Testament Passage for reading and translation : 1 John 1:1-4 In your Greek New Testament, read the passages aloud several times until you can read it without long pauses or stumbling. Then use the helps to translate it. ὃ ἤν "that which was" ὃ "which" ( the Neuter Nominative/Accusative singular Relative Pronoun) ἐψηλαφεσαν (they) touched ( Aorist of ψηλαφω - I touch, feel) ἤ (it) may be ( Third Person singular Present Subjunctive of εἰµι - I am ) πεπληρωµενη have been filled/fulfilled ( Feminine Nominative singular Perfect Participle Passive of πληροω - I fill, fulfil) 56.10 Vocabulary to learn Start to learn the first five Principal Parts of the verbs listed in Appendix D 01 ἀγνοέω I am ignorant, do not understand διατηρέω I keep βεβαιόω I confirm, strengthen, prove to e true δηλόω I make clear, show, inform διεγείρω I wake up, awake ἐµπίπτω I fall into, fall among ἐπαισχύνοµαι I feel shame for, am ashamed ἐπικαλέω I call, name ( Middle - I appeal to, call upon) ἥκω I have come, am present, am here ( 3rd Person plural ἡκασιν ) λυπέω I grieve, cause pain, injure ( Passive - I am sorrowful, sad) οἶδα I know (I have learned ) ( Perfect in form, but translated as a Present. ) παραιτέοµαι I ask to be excused, refuse, reject πράσσω I do, practice, act ῥώννυµαι I am healthy ( Perfect Imperative used at end of a letter = "farewell") σέβοµαι I worship φιµόω I silence, muzzle ἡ ἀκροβυστία uncircumcision ἀκροβυστίαν ἐχω I am a Gentile διάνοια mind, understanding ὁ δρόµος course, race course, course of life το εἷδος -ους appearance, view, visible form ἡ κοινωνία fellowship ἡ λύπη pain, grief, sorrow ἡ παρρησία openness, frankness. ( Dative παρρησίᾳ used as an adverb = openly ) καίπερ πώποτε κοινός, -η, -ον although, though at any time, ever common, unclean (by Jewish law)